Date Published:
02/11/2019 3:26PM

Start the morning with a hearty breakfast and meet elected officials who make decisions for the agriculture industry in Georgia during Fort Valley State University’s 37th Ham and Egg Legislative Breakfast on April 5. The event begins at 8 a.m. in the C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center on FVSU’s campus.

The Ham and Egg Legislative Breakfast serves as a forum for FVSU Cooperative Extension Program clients and citizens of Georgia to receive updated information on state and federal legislative issues pertaining to agriculture.

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) is scheduled to serve as the keynote speaker, and Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) is scheduled to preside over the breakfast.

Additionally, representatives from the state Legislature, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and FVSU will make presentations during the event.

“We are honored to have both Sen. Perdue and Rep. Bishop as confirmed program participants at this year's breakfast,” said Joy-Moten Thomas, chair of the breakfast planning committee and FVSU’s assistant administrator of community development and outreach. “We are hoping to continually deliver a program that helps address agricultural concerns impacting constituents we serve in rural Georgia.”

The FVSU assistant administrator says some issues that may be discussed by Georgia’s congressional delegation include the recently passed Farm Bill, its benefits for Georgia farmers and any updates on federal assistance to FVSU’s southwest Georgia constituents impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Michael.

FVSU’s Ham and Egg Breakfast evolved from the Ham and Egg Show created in 1916 by Houston County Extension agent Otis O’Neal. That first show featured 39 hams and 17 dozen eggs. Retired FVSU professor Dr. Glenwood Hill revived the event as the Ham and Egg Breakfast in 1982.

To purchase tickets online through the Wildcat Ticket Office, visit (wildcatticketoffice.com/event-tickets/). Tickets are $30 until March 22 and $40 until March 30. Tickets will be available at the door, but seating is limited.

For more information about the Ham and Egg Breakfast, contact Moten-Thomas at (478) 825-6954 or thomasb@fvsu.edu.